Gearing up for Summer

The museum center is getting ready for exhibits, events, and programs for the 2007 summer season. The featured exhibit this year will be *125 YEARS* which will include artifacts and information on the founding and development of Dickinson. Originally called Pleasant Valley Siding, the site was chosen as a division point for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1880. In 1881 the first buildings went up, and by that fall the name had been changed to Dickinson, after Wells S. Dickinson, a senator from New York and land agent for the Northern Pacific. In 1882 the town site was platted, and the first lot was sold to E.F. Messersmith on September 7, 1882.

Other exhibits will include information on the historic buildings in downtown Dickinson, and the history of agriculture, ranching, oil, and coal in the area. A few programs that are being developed include the first ever Southwest North Dakota Photography Contest to be held at the museum, and some programs for school-aged children. Check back with us for more information as these programs continue to develop.